Assay Office

The Portuguese Assay Office is the official and technical service integrated into the National Mint, which ensures the testing and marking of articles containing precious metals, as well as the affixing of the mark guaranteeing the legal fineness of these articles.

Legal Compliance with the Portuguese Assay Office 

All precious metal items sold by Elements 75'80  are duly marked, in accordance with the provisions of  Law No. 98/2015 , of August 18 , which provides for the Legal Regime for Goldsmiths and Assay Offices (RJOC) . 

According to this legislation, an article is considered legally marked when it bears the following mandatory marks: 

Responsibility (or manufacturing/equivalent) punch :  identifies the person responsible for introducing the item into the national market; 

Assay punch and touch punch:  certify the type of precious metal and the legal touch, guaranteeing the authenticity and quality of the item. 

According to article 3 of the RJOC: 

Contrast puncture: corresponds to the official mark of the Assay Office (or an accredited independent body), used to certify that the item meets the legal requirements regarding the type and content of the precious metal. 

Punishment of responsibility:  identifies the manufacturer, importer or other economic operator responsible for placing the item on the market. 

Certification Symbols by Metal Type 

The symbol (puncture) applied varies according to the type of precious metal and its respective touch: 

  • Gold 

    • Deer head: for touches equal to or greater than 800 thousandths 

    • Swallow in flight: for touches less than 800 thousandths 

  • Silver 

    • Eagle head facing left: for finenesses equal to or greater than 925 thousandths 

    • Eagle head facing right: for touches equal to or less than 835 thousandths 

  • Platinum 

    • Parrot head 

  • Palladium 

    • Lynx head facing left 

 

Legal marks of Portuguese Assay Office

 According to the Legal Regime of Goldsmiths and Assay Offices (RJOC), articles with precious metals originating from a Member State of the European Union (EU)  or of the European Economic Area (EEA)  can be sold on the national market without the need for testing and marking by the Portuguese Assay Office , as long as the following conditions are met: 

  • THE responsibility mark (manufacturing or equivalent)  of the economic operator is duly deposited in the Assay Office ; 

  • THE hallmark and touch mark  be previously recognized by the Portuguese Quality Institute (IPQ, IP) . 

For more information about recognized entities, metals and tones, you can consult the Portuguese Quality Institute . 

He can consult here  the list, managed and organized by INCM, of appraisers of articles with precious metals and gemological materials. 

Articles containing precious metals originating from an EU or EEA Member State that are exempt from marking under their respective legislation, but are not exempt from marking under Portuguese legislation, must be previously tested and marked at a Portuguese Assay Office or at the Assay Office of the recognized country of origin, in order to be placed on the national market. 

The competent authorities may carry out physical inspection of all items in Elements 75'80 stores. 

 Click here if you want to know the daily price of gold, silver, platinum and palladium, in accordance with the terms of paragraph a) of § 1 and § 2 of article 63 of the RJOC. 

For more information about the Portuguese Contrastaria, Click here .